When and Where: August 30, 2026 – Manchester, N.H. (Stan Spirou Field House)
Match 1 Score: Dominican (N.Y.) University 3, Southern New Hampshire University 2
Match 2 Score: Southern New Hampshire University 3, Assumption University 1
Records: SNHU 1-1, DU 1-2, AU, 0-4
Junior Jordyn Carroll (Moultonborough, N.H.) racked up 35 kills, as the Southern New Hampshire University women's volleyball team halved a pair of matches to open the season Sunday at the Stan Spirou Field House. The Penmen fell to Dominican (N.Y.) University in five sets, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over Assumption to cap the tri-match.
KEY MOMENTS
- The Penmen led, 9-8, looking to close out the match in the fourth set, but Dominican notched five straight as part of a 9-1 blitz that put it up, 17-10. The Chargers never let the Penmen get closer than four and would go on to win the deciding set.
- Leading by just two against Assumption and trying to avoid another fifth set, the Penmen reeled off seven straight as part of a match-clinching 11-3 run. Fifth year Laura Haas (Londonderry, N.H.) served seven times during the stretch and recorded a trio of service aces.
NOTES
- The Penmen post an opening-day victory for the first time since 2023, when they swept Georgian Court University and Edinboro University at the Field House.
- Lauren Havill secures win No. 1 as head coach of the Penmen. Havill, who was hired in March, previously won 38 matches in women's Division II with Lees-McRae College.
- This was the first August match for the Penmen since they opened on Aug. 27 back in 2022.
- Carroll posted match highs in kills in both contests with a career-high 18 and 17, respectively.
- Freshman Emma Martinez (Plano, Texas) dished 88 assists over the two contests, including 48 in the defeat.
- Fifth year Meri Ibrahimi (Woburn, Mass.) collected 47 digs in the two matches, including a career-best 30 against Dominican.
- Freshman Valentina Bugnatto (Wilmington, N.C.) recorded 17 kills on .381 hitting in her debut against the Chargers, before adding nine kills and five aces versus Assumption.
WHAT'S NEXT
- The Penmen travel to Philadelphia for four matches at Thomas Jefferson University on Sept. 4-5. They open up with Holy Family University on Friday at 11 a.m.
- SNHU returns home Tuesday, Sept. 15 (7 p.m.) when it plays host to Franklin Pierce University in non-conference action.
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